James 2

1 My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism.

1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.

2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

3 If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,”

3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?

5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?

6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?

7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

8 If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

10 Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.

12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

13 For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16 If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that?

16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17 So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

19 You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless?

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23 And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24 As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route?

25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.